Best Of The Rest

North American International Auto Show

DETROIT -- Last week, we told you about the new production vehicles and concepts from Ford, General Motors and Chrysler that debuted at the North American International Auto Show, which closed this week. Now, here's the latest from the import brands.

There weren't many big surprises from the imports, unless you count the plethora of pickups on display. Such as:

Nissan is following its successful launch of the Titan, the company's first full-sized pickup, with a new version of the smaller pickup, the Frontier. Slightly larger and more powerful than the current, aged Frontier, the new model looks, from a distance, like a baby Titan, which is exactly what Nissan wants you to think it is.

Toyota, having sent its long-in-the-tooth Tundra into battle for 2004 with the Titan and an all-new Ford F-150, served notice that an all-new truck is on the way. The enormous, odd-looking FTX concept pickup truck doesn't look much like the next-generation Tundra, but it represents the new truck's approximate size. Toyota says that the next Tundra, to be built in a brand-new plant in San Antonio, will be available with a hybrid gasoline/electric powertrain.

Mitsubishi used to supply pickups to Chrysler, and now partner and part-owner Chrysler will help Mitsubishi build a new pickup, which the struggling company badly needs. Mitsubishi displayed a Sport Truck concept, which may or may not suggest some styling cues for the new pickup.

Arguably most important, though, is Honda's admission of a not very well-kept secret: that it will build a pickup truck in 2005. Well, it's sort of a truck -- the SUT will be based on the same platform as the Odyssey minivan and Pilot sport ute, and while it will have a smallish bed in the back, the SUT is foremost a four-door, five-passenger vehicle. In intent, it's similar to the Ford Explorer SportTrac and Subaru Baja, but Honda executives suggest its 3.5-liter V-6 engine will allow trailer towing of as much as 5,000 pounds. The SUT will be all-wheel-drive, with a front-wheel-drive version possible.

Foreign brands also trotted out their share of sport utes. The Volkswagen Concept T is sort of a return to the old dune-buggy segment that VW helped create, but don't expect to see this vehicle at your local dealer -- well, ever.

Range Rover is expected to build a version of its concept -- the Stormer -- but it will be toned down for production and will be a four-door, instead of the two-door on display. The Mercedes-Benz GST shown at Detroit is almost ready for production, though, but without the concept's diesel engine. More sporty station wagon than SUV, the GST -- Grand Sports Tourer -- will be built in Mercedes' plant in Alabama.

The North American International Auto Show closed Monday, but if you missed it, rest assured that most all of the production vehicles, and many of the concepts, now begin their road trip, destined for appearances at auto shows across the country -- including the Central Florida International Auto Show.